ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Policy: The Relevance of Kautilya in Democratic India

Kautilya’s Arthashastra, composed around the 3rd century BCE, stands as one of the earliest and most systematic treatises on governance, statecraft, and economic administration. It delineates a comprehensive framework for political order, rooted in the welfare of the people and the moral responsibility of rulers. Despite being written in a monarchical context, Kautilya’s ideas hold enduring significance in the democratic and bureaucratic structure of contemporary India. This paper explores how Arthashastra’s principles — particularly those relating to welfare, accountability, diplomacy, and ethics — can guide modern governance. It critically analyses parallels between Kautilya’s administrative strategies and India’s present policy mechanisms such as Good Governance Mission, Digital India, and Mission Karmayogi. The study employs descriptive and comparative methods to highlight the continuity of Indian political thought from ancient to modern times. It concludes that Kautilya’s pragmatic yet ethical vision of governance provides valuable insights for addressing 21st-century challenges such as corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency, and policy accountability.